Stories of Transformation
Each woman who participates in CAMINOS – Pathways Learning
Center has a distinct history with her own personal challenges
and triumphs - a unique story to tell. We thank the three women
who allowed us to share their stories. Some names have been
changed to respect their privacy.
01 SOFIA :: Computer Repair Technician
02 ANA :: Technology Instructor
03 XOCHILT :: Social Entrepreneur
Sofia :: Computer
Repair Technician
One day over 35 years ago, a young girl in Mexico
strapped her baby brother to her back in a shawl and played outside
with her siblings. While playing, she imagined a future where
she became a doctor. Those dreams, however, were soon overshadowed
by the reality of supporting a family.
Today, Sofia makes new dreams as a Computer
Repair Instructor at CAMINOS. She takes a screwdriver, confidently
removes a computer case, and sets up ten stations for her Computer
Repair class. Watching her, you would never imagine she first
opened a computer a year and a half ago.
When growing up in Mexico City, Sofia was the
second in a family of eight. Her mother supported the family by
working long hours. As a child, Sofia was responsible for taking
care of her siblings while their mother worked. When Sofia’s
mother could no longer support the family, Sofia dropped school
and began working at age 12. At 18 she married, moved to the United
States and had two children by age 21. Some years after, she left
an abusive marriage and began to rebuild a life for herself and
her children. “I think it is not too late for me to make
something of myself,” she says. “I am an example to
my children. They tell me they believe in me. I have changed since
I have been studying and now teaching computer repair courses
at Caminos. I hope to one day be able to have my own computer
repair business and I am well on my way now as I free lance as
computer repair technician in my community. I have established
clients already for whom I have built new computers or repaired
computers for.”
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Alma :: Technology
Instructor
A slow economy and lack of employment opportunities
for women forced Alma to leave Mexico City. When Alma arrived
in San Francisco, she worked as a janitor, a backbreaking job
but one that enabled Alma to make money to help support her family.
Friends recommended CAMINOS to Alma and she
approached the classes without the benefit of prior experience
with computers, having been educated in Mexico only until the
ninth grade. ”I had not set any goals for myself when I
came to Caminos. What inspired me was seeing other women like
myself improving their education and their knowledge,” Alma
shares.
Alma showed exceptional ability once her classes
commenced. She took just about every class that CAMINOS offers,
including Excel, Photoshop and Power Point. Alma became interested
in going beyond the point of merely mastering various applications;
she excelled at the programs so much that she now teaches full-time
at Caminos, a career she had never entertained. “I still
can’t believe I am teaching, it feels great, like a dream.”
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Xochilt
:: Social Entrepreneur
Xochilt, arrived in the United States already
with a degree in Secretarial Administration that she obtained
in Mexico. She has been here for over three years, arriving with
her husband and two children.
It is hard for Latina immigrant women to integrate
into society and reach economic sself-sufficiency within the United
States because of cultural and language barriers. Xochilt had
always wanted to learn how to use computers, but did not have
the money to pay for the courses nor could advance courses taught
in Spanish until she came to CAMINOS. At CAMINOS, “I began
to conceptualize my different goals and focus on bringing them
to fruition. I have discovered that I can realize my full potential
as a woman. It is a great help to my family that I can now earn
an income.”
Like many immigrants, Sofia applied her newly
found computer skills in such applications as Photoshop to a number
of lucrative entrepreneurial initiatives as a talented graphic
designer. She has designed menus for several of the businesses
in the Mission Districts, she has restored hundreds of old photos
in Photoshop for the local Latino community and has created logos
and images for several community groups and small businesses in
Photoshop that she later silk screens unto t-shirts.
In the near future, she plans to take advantage
of the various community resources that will teach her the pitfalls
of the business world and help her obtain the permits required
for her to start her own small business.
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